Should a 12 year old help around the house?

Question

Should a 12yr old home around the house?
I am a mom of 4: 12, 6, 17month and 2 month old.
And trying to get things done around the house is hard because of my two little ones.
What makes me mad that my 12 yr old prefers to play video games or lay down instead of helping me around the house or at least watch the baby.
Yet, when he does watches the baby, he rushes me as I'm doing stuff around the house all so he can play video games.
Now, I had enough!

Answer

Oh yes! I have a son who will be 2 on the 24th and I have started teaching him to help me. Little things like putting his cup or snack plate in the sink, in fact yesterday while I was doing the dishes, he accidentally spilled few drops of his milk on the floor and I found him with a paper towel cleaning up the mess. Lol I felt like a proud mum because I didn't even ask him to do that. It's the little things that prepare them for the bigger tasks.

Answer

Yes. 6 year old should too. They can do simple stuff like dishes. 12 year old can do more like trash, dishes, sweeping.

Answer

Um yeah definitely. If they are old enough for video games they are old enough to help around the house. Sweep, dishes, fold clothes, make beds, vacuum, change trash etc. I’d say bye bye to the games until he or she starts helping

Answer

12 year old and 6 year old should be doing normal household chores. 12 year old should be helping with yard work too and taking out trash every day.  17 month old should be picking up his toys.   
I think they should start helping as soon as they can walk

Answer

He should have chores yes but you had the baby and it is your responsibility as the PARENT to take care of the child. Not child taking care of child. Have him take out the garbage, pick up stuff from around the house and put in the correct location, clean his room, and gather laundry from around the house. Let him be a child and play his game, he’s not your baby daddy.

Answer

I would say games are off limits except certain hrs of the day and only if his chores are taken care of. No discussion, you want the game at 6pm? Make sure xyz is done!

Answer

At 12 I could do laundry, cook and clean. My mum worked nights and it was up to me and my sister (2 years older) to take care of the house and ourselves. My mum worked hard to put a roof over our heads and me and my sister are very independent woman now thanks to her teaching us these life skills from a young age. I had friends who didn’t have a clue how to do anything when they went off to college I was the mum 🙄

Answer

Yes. So should your smaller ones. Age appropriate chores. Teach them young. Raise them right. You cant be frustrated with him now if you've not been raising him to be helpful. That's on you. You can work on it now but it will be much more difficult.

Answer

My 12 yr old is the same. I don't expect her to actually watch the baby but hell can you keep him entertained while I cook dinner or vaccuum? Her chores are to feed the animals and clean up the table. Like once a week I make her load or unload the dishwasher. Sometimes she will do a load of laundry... my 14yr olds chores are taking out the trash, litterboxes and  putting waters in the fridge because he always takes the last one lol... he will load or unload the dishwasher once in a while and sometimes he will sit with the baby... but it's not like they are raising him lol they can help for a bit here and there. It will not hurt them. The also do not get allowances. But I also don't tell them no all the time, so they get stuff they might want just because.

Answer

By 8 I was doing my laundry

Should a 12 year old help around the house?

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